Baby kidnapped from Middlemore Hospital

Police outside South Auckland's Middlemore Hospital after news broke that a five-day-old baby had been taken from the premises. Photo / Chris Gorman

Police are hunting for a five-day-old baby who was kidnapped from Middlemore Hospital earlier this evening.

The baby was taken after a woman claiming to be pregnant was allowed into a ward with a man.

It is understood the kidnapping occurred not long after visiting hours finished at 8pm.

Counties Manukau District Health Board spokeswoman Lauren Young said "the woman came in [claiming] to be pregnant and she was admitted into the birthing unit."

"While the clerk was checking her details she disappeared."

Ms Young believed the couple left the hospital together and police had managed to identify who they were from footage.

"The baby was on the maternity ward. It was with its mother. The mother had stepped out of the room temporarily."

"It's too early to even talk about [security] reviews. At the moment all the efforts are concentrated on looking after the family and finding the baby," she said.

Police would not release any further information on the incident saying to do so could "have some serious implications" for the safety of the baby involved.

"We are in the very early stages of the investigation," said Counties Manukau police spokeswoman Kimberley Mathews.